How long will Rogers' benching last?
Washington Commanders cornerback Carlos Rogers, a starter in all but two of the team's games since 2006, was benched after the first series of Sunday's 27-17 victory over the Denver Broncos, a move that appeared to be punishment for his role in the Broncos' first touchdown of the day.
"I was done for the game," Rogers said afterward. "I don't know if it's for the year, or what."
Rogers, who was replaced mostly by veteran Fred Smoot as the cornerback opposite DeAngelo Hall, admitted that he erred on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Denver quarterback Kyle Orton to star wideout Brandon Marshall. The play came on third and 11, and Marshall badly faked out Rogers to get himself wide open just more than three minutes into the game.
"I gave up the first one," Rogers said. "It was a double-move. After that I didn't play no more. After that, it was on whoever it was. I really didn't pay attention."
Rogers spent the rest of the game on the sideline without his helmet nearby. He caught passes from quarterback Jason Campbell to help Campbell keep warm. Second-year cornerback Justin Tryon also saw significant time when the Commanders played three cornerbacks.
"We took him out just to give him a break," Coach Jim Zorn said. "Fred Smoot really rose to the occasion, having to come in and play corner in a big game in that situation.
"What we'll do: Carlos is not out of it now. We'll just go back and look at it. Much like a QB, we made a change. It was for the rest of the game, but it doesn't mean it's for the rest of the way down the road."
Marshall also caught a 75-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter; his first two catches went for 115 yards, but he had only three catches for 19 yards after that.
Rogers, a restricted free agent after this season, said he had not thought about what the benching might mean for his future. He did not start two games at the end of last season after the Commanders signed Hall and the since-departed Shawn Springs got healthy.
"It's nothing new to me," Rogers said. "Anything that happens around here ain't nothing new to me. I went through it last year. I was benched after the first half of the season I had. ... "I didn't really worry about it, and I'm not really going to think about it. I ain't even going to think about no future here."
